Cigarette container

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a container for holding cigarettes. In general, the container includes an inner pack for storing the cigarettes and an outer sleeve. The inner pack includes, among other things, a body and a lid. In one embodiment, the lid has a rear wall integrally hinged to the rear wall of the body. In another embodiment, the lid has a side wall that is integrally hinged with the side wall of the body. The lid includes a flap affixed a wall of the lid and the flap includes a tab. The inner pack moves within the outer sleeve between a first position whereby the lid is located in a closed position and a second position whereby the tab of the flap contacts the tab of the outer sleeve and the lid is located in an open position.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application claims priority to Indonesian Patent Application No.S00200300176, entitled “Automatic Flip Top Pack Opening,” which wasfiled with the Indonesian Patent Office on Nov. 19, 2003.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to a container that includes anautomatic lid opening device. More particularly, the present inventioncomprises a cigarette pack that includes a sleeve that the cigaretteholding container slides within to open and close the cigarettecontainer lid.

BACKGROUND

Smoking articles, such as cigarettes, conventionally have been sold inpackages. Typically, each package contains about twenty or abouttwenty-five cigarettes.

One type of popular cigarette package is the so-called “hard pack,”“crush proof box” or “hinged lid package.” Such a package has agenerally cuboid-type shape, is manufactured from resilient paperboard,and includes an outer wrap of transparent polypropylene film. Hinged lidcigarette packages conventionally are made from two paperboard blanks.One blank forms the body and lid of the package. The second blank formsan insert or inner frame which is assembled to the inside of the frontand side walls of the package. The inner frame projects above the frontand side walls of the package body, and provides a seal between the lidand body when the package is closed.

When purchased, conventional “hinged lid” cigarette packages include anouter protective wrapping. After the outer protective wrapping isremoved, a smoker then manually opens the hinged lid to gain access to acigarette within the package. After a cigarette is removed, the hingedlid is then manually closed to protect the cigarettes remaining in thepackage. The hinged lid must be placed over the inner frame of thepackage, which often becomes damaged after repeated opening and closingof the package. Eventually, the hinged lid does not close properly orcompletely form a seal with the inner frame.

It would be highly desirable to have a cigarette package whereby thehinged lid opened and closed automatically. It would also be desirableto have a cigarette package whereby the hinged lid repeatably forms aseal with the inner frame throughout the life of the package. Thepresent invention provides, among other things, these advantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the present invention is to provide a cigarette packhaving a mechanism that automatically opens the pack lid and allowsaccess to the cigarettes contained in the pack. In general, a packcontainer for holding the cigarettes slides within an outer sleeve. Inone embodiment, the pack container includes a side-opening lid thatautomatically moves to an open position as the pack container slides outof the outer sleeve. In another embodiment, the pack container includesa front-opening lid that automatically moves to an open position as thepack container is slid out of the outer sleeve.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a cigarette packthat allows easier access to the cigarettes than a conventionalcigarette pack. In a conventional cigarette pack, the pack must beturned upside down to get a cigarette out or the package itself does notexpose much of the cigarette after the pack is opened. Here, thecontainer pack slides out of an outer sleeve and the pack lid opens toexpose a larger area of the cigarettes within the pack making it easierto remove a cigarette from the pack.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an isometric view of an embodiment of a side-openingcigarette pack whereby the lid is located in the closed position; FIG.1B is an isometric view of the side-opening cigarette pack shown in FIG.1A whereby the lid is partially open; FIG. 1C is an isometric view ofthe side-opening cigarette pack shown in FIG. 1C whereby the lid islocated in the fully-opened position;

FIG. 2A is a schematic view of an embodiment of the outer wall of thecigarette pack; FIG. 2B is a schematic view of an embodiment of theinterior pack illustrating the opening tab;

FIG. 3A is a schematic view of the outer wall tab in relation to theinner pack tab while the inner pack is seated within the outer sleeve;FIG. 3B is a schematic view of the outer wall tab engaging the innerpack tab as the inner pack is removed from the outer sleeve; FIG. 3C isa schematic view of the outer wall tab engaging the inner pack tab asthe inner pack reaches an extended position;

FIG. 4A is an isometric of an embodiment of a front-opening cigarettepack whereby the lid is located in the closed position; FIG. 4B is arear perspective view of the cigarette pack shown in FIG. 4A whereby theinner pack has been partially removed from the outer sleeve; FIG. 4C isa rear perspective view of the cigarette pack shown in FIG. 4A wherebythe lid is located in an opened position;

FIG. 5A is a schematic view of the outer sleeve tab in relation to theinner pack tab while the inner pack is seated within the outer sleeveaccording to the cigarette pack shown in FIG. 4A; FIG. 5B is a schematicview of the outer sleeve tab engaging the inner pack tab as the innerpack is removed from the outer sleeve; FIG. 5C is a schematic view ofthe outer sleeve tab engaging the inner pack tab as the inner packreaches the extended position according to the cigarette pack shown inFIG. 4C.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate one embodiment of a cigarette pack 4 according tothe present invention. The cigarette pack 4 generally consists of twoelements—a pack container 10 and an outer sleeve 30. The pack container10 consists of a front wall 12, a rear wall 14, two narrow, upright sidewalls 16, 18, a bottom wall 20 and an end wall 22. The outer sleeve 30consists of a front wall 32, a rear wall 34, two narrow, upright sidewalls 36, 38 and a bottom wall 40.

The pack container 10 includes a lid 24 that opens to provide access tothe cigarettes and closes to retain the cigarettes within the packcontainer 10. The lid 24 comprises a lid front wall 13, a lid rear wall15, a narrow lid side wall 17, which adjoins the side wall 16, and a topend wall 19 opposite the base wall 20.

The pack container 10 and lid 24 are connected to one another with swingaction by an hinge line 25 in the region of the side wall 16 and the lidside wall 17. FIG. 1A illustrates the lid 24 in a closed position. FIG.1B illustrates the lid 24 in a partially open position. As shown in FIG.2B, the lid end wall 19 comprises a distance X1 while the lid side wall17 comprises a distance X2. In a preferred embodiment, X1 and X2 areequidistant. However, it is within the spirit and scope of the inventionfor X1 and X2 to differ. The lid 24 must simply be large enough so thatwhen the lid 24 is located in the fully-open position (see FIG. 1C), aperson may access one or more cigarettes located within the packcontainer 10.

The lid 24 includes an opening mechanism 27, which as shown in FIG. 2B,comprises an extender 31 that transitions into a tab 29. The extender 31extends downward along the lid side wall 17. As best shown in FIGS. 2Band 3A, the extender 31 may comprise a length X3 that is greater orshorter than X2. In either embodiment, a portion of the extender 31 isfolded along a fold line 33 back towards the end wall 22 to form a tab29. The tab 29 therefore, rests against the extender 31 while the packcontainer 10 is housed within the outer sleeve 30 (discussed in detaillater in this application).

The extender 31, as shown in FIG. 2B, is formed from the same piece ofmaterial as the lid 24. The extender 31 does not, however, need tocomprise the same piece of material as the lid 24. Further, the extender31 may be secured to the lid 24 by other methods such as, by way ofexample only, glued to the lid side wall 17.

The outer sleeve 30 consists of a substantially similar shape as thepack container 10. In this embodiment, the pack container 10 issurrounded by the outer sleeve 30 except for a portion of the boom wall20 and the end wall 22. FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate that the pack container10 slides within the outer sleeve 30. The bottom wall 40 of the outersleeve 30 includes an opening 41. The opening 41 is large enough for aperson to stick their finger through to contact the bottom wall 20 ofthe pack container 10 and push the pack container 10 out of the outersleeve 30 (shown as the Y-direction in FIG. 1B). The outer sleeve 30 maycomprise a similar material as the pack container 10. The outer sleeve30 and the pack container 10 may, however, comprise different materials.

The upright side wall 36 of the outer sleeve 30 includes an opening tab46. FIGS. 2A and 3A-3C illustrate that the opening tab 46, in oneembodiment, is an extension of the side wall 36. The opening tab 46folds inward along folding line 48 and extends along the interior of theside wall 36 (down towards the bottom wall 40). The opening tab 46 isshown in FIG. 2A as substantially the same width W as the side wall 36.The opening tab 46 may have a width smaller than W since the material ispreferably rigid. The opening tab 46 may also comprise a separate pieceof material than the upright side wall 36 (e.g., glued to the wall 36)or may be folded along a different folding line than line 48.

FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate one embodiment of the operation of the cigarettepack 4. The distance between the outer wall 16 of the pack container 10and the outer wall 36 of the outer sleeve 30 is exaggerated forillustration purposes only. FIG. 3A illustrates the pack container 10seated within the outer sleeve 30 with the lid 24 in a closed position.In this position, the tab 29 is located below and does not contact thetab 46, which exemplifies an “as sold” condition of the cigarette pack4. FIG. 3B illustrates the pack container 10 partially withdrawn fromthe outer sleeve 30 to a position where the tab 29 initially contactsthe tab 46. At this point, the lid 24 remains in the closed position.FIG. 3C illustrates that, as the pack container 10 continues to slideout of the outer sleeve 30, the tab 46 remains in contact with the tab29 and prevents the tab 29 from continuing to move along theY-direction. As previously discussed above, the extender 31 is eitheraffixed to the lid 24 or is formed from the same material. With the tab29 in a fixed position, the extender 31 forces the lid 24 to pull awayfrom the pack container 10. As the pack container 10 continues to movein the Y-direction, lid 24 continues to rotate in a counterclockwisedirection away from the pack container 10 about the fold line 48. At theposition shown in FIG. 3C, the lid 24 is open enough to provide easyaccess to the cigarettes remaining in the pack container 10.

The lid 24 closes automatically and forms a seal with the container pack10 by pushing the pack container 10 back into the outer sleeve 30. Forexample, after a cigarette is removed from the pack container 10, aperson may push down (−Y direction) on the end wall 22 to move the packcontainer 10 back into the outer sleeve 30. As the pack container 10slides back into the outer sleeve 30, the lid 24 begins to rotateclockwise about fold line 48 from the open position (see FIG. 3C) to theclosed position (see FIG. 3A). The lid 24 can be reopened simply bypushing the pack container 10 back into the open position shown in FIG.3C.

FIGS. 4A-4C illustrate a second embodiment of a cigarette pack 100—afront opening cigarette pack. The cigarette pack 100 generally consistsof two elements—a pack container 110 and an outer sleeve 130. The packcontainer 110 consists of a front wall 112, a rear wall 114, two narrow,upright side walls 116, 118, a bottom wall 120 and an end wall 122. Theouter sleeve 130 consists of a front wall 132, a rear wall 134, twonarrow, upright side walls 136, 138 and a bottom wall 140.

The pack container 110 includes a lid 124 that opens to provide accessto the cigarettes and closes to retain the cigarettes within the packcontainer 110. Correspondingly, the lid 24 comprises a lid front wall113, a lid rear wall 115, narrow lid side walls 117, 121, which adjoinsside walls 116, 118 and a top end wall 119 opposite the bottom wall 120.The lid 124 opens and closes about hinge line 125. FIG. 4A illustratesthe lid 124 in a closed position. The lid 24 must simply be large enoughso that when the lid 124 is located in the open position (see FIG. 4C),a person may access one or more cigarettes located within the packcontainer 110.

The lid 124 includes an opening mechanism 127, which as shown in FIG.4B, comprises an extender 131 that transitions into a tab 129. Theextender 131 extends downward from the lid 124 along the rear wall 114and the rear lid wall 115. In this embodiment, the extender 131 extendsfrom a fold line 133 downward and then back towards the end wall 122 toform a tab 129. The tab 129 therefore, rests against the extender 131while the pack container 110 is housed within the outer sleeve 130(discussed in detail later in this application). The opening mechanism127 does not, however, need to comprise the same piece of material asthe lid 124. For example, the extender 131 may be secured to the lidrear wall 115. Any fastening means is acceptable such as, by way ofexample only, glued to the lid rear wall 115. The length of the extender131 may also vary.

The outer sleeve 130 consists of a substantially similar shape as thepack container 110. FIG. 4A-4C illustrate that the pack container 110slides within the outer sleeve 130. The bottom wall 140 of the outersleeve 130 includes an opening 141. The opening allows a person to sticktheir finger through the opening 141 to contact the bottom wall 120 ofthe pack container 110 and push the pack container 110 upwards (shown asthe Y-direction in FIG. 5A). Thus, the pack container 110 is surroundedby the outer sleeve 130 except for a portion of the bottom wall 120 andthe end wall 122. In one embodiment, the outer sleeve 130 comprises asimilar material to the pack container 110. The outer sleeve 130 and thepack container 110 may, however, comprise different materials.

The rear wall 134 of the outer sleeve 130 includes an opening tab 146.FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate that the opening tab 146 is an extension of therear wall 134. In this embodiment, the opening tab 146 folds inwardalong folding line 148 and extends along the interior of the side wall136 (down towards the bottom wall 140). The opening tab 46 may, however,comprise a separate piece of material that is affixed to the rear wall134 (e.g., by glue, etc.). The tab 46 may also have a different widththan the rear wall 34 or may be folded along a different folding linethan folding line 48.

FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate the operation of the cigarette pack 100. Thedistance between the rear wall 114 of the pack container 110 and therear wall 134 of the outer sleeve 130 is exaggerated for illustrationpurposes only. FIG. 5A represents the pack container 110 fully seatedwithin the outer sleeve 130. In this position, the tab 129 is locatedbelow the tab 146 and the lid 124 is located in the closed position(e.g., the “as sold” condition of the cigarette pack 100). FIG. 5Billustrates the pack container 110 partially withdrawn from the outersleeve 130 to a position where the tab 129 initially contacts the tab146. At this point, the lid 124 remains in the closed position eventhough it is partially withdrawn from the outer sleeve 30. As the packcontainer 110 continues to slide out of the outer sleeve 130, the tab146 remains in contact with the tab 129 and prevents the tab 129 fromcontinuing to move along the Y-direction. With the tab 129 held in afixed position, the extender 131 separates the lid 124 from the packcontainer 110 by rotating the lid 124 counterclockwise (from a sideview) about the fold line 125.

The lid 124 will close automatically when the pack container 110 ispushed back into the outer sleeve 130. For example, as the packcontainer 110 is pushed back into the outer sleeve 130, the lid 124begins to rotate clockwise about fold line 125 between the open positionillustrated in FIG. 5C to the closed position indicated in FIG. 5A. Thelid 124 can be reopened simply by pushing the pack container 110 backinto the position shown in FIG. 5C.

Although the invention has been described in detail herein, it should beunderstood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments hereindisclosed. Various changes, substitutions and modifications may be madethereto by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit orscope of the invention as described herein.

1. A container for holding cigarettes, comprising: an outer sleevehaving a rear wall including a tab extending from an interior side ofsaid rear wall; An inner pack for storing at least one cigarette,including: a body having a front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall, asecond side wall, and a bottom wall; a lid having a rear wall integrallyhinged to said rear wall of said body, said lid being adapted to rotatebetween an open position and a closed position; a flap having a proximalend affixed to said rear wall of said lid and a distal end forming atab, said flap extending along a portion of said rear wall of said lidand said rear wall of said body while said inner pack is located withinsaid outer sleeve; and wherein said inner pack moves within said outersleeve between a first position whereby said lid is located in saidclosed position and a second position whereby said tab of said flap iscontacting said tab of said outer sleeve and said lid is located in saidopen position.
 2. The container according to claim 1, wherein saidproximal end of said flap is glued to said rear wall of said inner pack.3. The container according to claim 1, wherein said proximal end of saidflap is integrally formed with said rear wall of said inner pack.
 4. Thecontainer according to claim 1, wherein said outer sleeve furtherincludes a bottom wall having an opening.
 5. The container according toclaim 4, wherein said opening exposes a portion of said bottom wall ofsaid inner pack when said container is located in said first position.6. The container according to claim 1, wherein said tab of said outersleeve is integrally formed with said rear wall of said outer sleeve. 7.The container according to claim 1, wherein said tab of said outersleeve is affixed to said rear wall of said outer sleeve.
 8. A containerfor holding cigarettes, comprising: an outer sleeve having a side wallincluding a tab extending from an interior side of said side wall; aninner pack for storing at least one cigarette, including: a body havinga front wall, a rear wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, and abottom wall; a lid having a side wall integrally hinged to said sidewall of said body, said lid being adapted to rotate between an openposition and a closed position; a flap having a proximal end affixed tosaid side wall of said lid and a distal end forming a tab, said flapextending along a portion of said side wall of said lid and said sidewall of said body while at least a portion of said inner pack is locatedwithin said outer sleeve; and wherein said inner pack moves within saidouter sleeve between a first position whereby said lid is located insaid closed position and a second position whereby said tab of said flapis contacting said tab of said outer sleeve and said lid is located insaid open position.
 9. The container according to claim 8, wherein saidproximal end of said flap is glued to said rear wall of said inner pack.10. The container according to claim 8, wherein said proximal end ofsaid flap is integrally formed with said rear wall of said inner pack.11. The container according to claim 8, wherein said outer sleevefurther includes a bottom wall having an opening.
 12. The containeraccording to claim 11, wherein said opening exposes a portion of saidbottom wall of said inner pack when said container is located in saidfirst position.
 13. The container according to claim 8, wherein said tabof said outer sleeve is integrally formed with said rear wall of saidouter sleeve.
 14. The container according to claim 8, wherein said tabof said outer sleeve is affixed to said rear wall of said outer sleeve.